Photographed by Monique Stander. (I took my other ear stud out because it was hurting me with the earphones on.)

Last night, I was invited to SA FM’s The Mash Up, a show about poetry and music collaboration hosted by Naledi Moleo. When the producer of the show asked me which musician I would like to collaborate with, I immediately thought of Mpumi Dhlamini, a talented multi-instrumentalist and (fun fact) my uncle. Music is my go-to device in my work and it just made sense to be accompanied by an actual Jazz man.

I would say, “Mpumi this poem will be better with saxophone, like a Fela Kuti vibe” or “something Miles Davis-y” or he would just listen to the words and just start playing. The whole point of the show is to encourage spontaneous collaboration so, no rehearsal. Just a few words about the theme of the poem and sometimes, just starting with the poem and meeting in the middle.

I really enjoyed this experience. I usually get nervous about collaborating with musicians because it could easily throw me off but Mpumi and I clearly work great together. We have to do a show together or something one of these days. I mean, the host even said that our collaboration has been her favourite in the history of the show. What a compliment!

Below, the podcast has been split into parts and I think that’s great because you don’t have to hear adverts, news and cricket updates. Enjoy and let me know what you think.

The Reading Club meets regularly on Saturday mornings at African Flavour Books in Braamfontein. The sessions are interactive and the children are encouraged to engage their imaginations (and confidence) to also stand at the front and make up stories for their peers. I think this is a great way to spend the morning with your little ones.

Thank you to Lorraine Sithole of The Reading Club for hosting Mpumi’s Magic Beads. Thank you to all the grown ups and little ones in attendance. This dream gets to have wings because of you and I appreciate you all for being there yesterday.

Tomorrow morning, bright and early, The Reading Club will be hosting me for a reading of Mpumi’s Magic Beads. Please brin your little ones. Entry is free and there will be books on sale. You’re welcome to bring your own to read along with me too. See you then!

How fantastic is this? I just came across a book review by Likamva (age 7) of The Chocolate Hair Sisters, an adorable, blogging duo from South Africa. Previously, they had chosen Mpumi’s Magic Beads for the Sibahle Collection Book Club holiday read this Summer. It makes me so happy to know that Likamva enjoyed the storyand that it has taught her, as she says in the video below, about “kindness and loving everyone”. That truly means the world to me!

A bunch of really cool researchers (you can read about them here) and myself have gotten together to create a multidisciplinary pilot study that incorporates Anthropology, biomedical research and photography to find out what young people have to say about sexuality in its current state in South Africa.

Please join us? All the criteria and info is on the poster. I’m so keen to meet you! Click here for the application form download page.